Mobilise all out support for the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland

The Communist Party of Swaziland’s Red October campaign for the year 2016-2017 focuses on all-out mobilisation in support of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). The campaign will be launched on 29 October 2016 in Manzini.

TUCOSWA is a crucial federation in representing the interests of the organised working class in Swaziland, and in promoting trade unionism within enterprises where worker’s rights are suppressed.

TUCOSWA has, since its foundation in 2012 been a target of the Mswati regime in its efforts to destroy the struggle for progressive change in our country. The working class remain the focus of the regime’s arrant exploitation of the country for its own self-enrichment. TUCOSWA is a thorn in the side of Mswati.

TUCOSWA has also been attacked for its close relations with the CPS, and all manner of efforts have been made to denigrate those in the federation who support the mutual solidarity between TUCOSWA and the CPS.

The struggle for democracy and freedom in Swaziland will only succeed if there is a class-conscious and well-organised labour movement driving the process of change. This is the core organising terrain and constituency of the CPS in its work to make a free Swaziland a socialist Swaziland.

In addition, by raising the banner of TUCOSWA this Red October, we aim to strengthen and consolidate the work of all trade unions in Swaziland. We must help build unity between them and tackle problems – many of which are stoked by reactionary forces in thrall to the Mswati dictatorship.

The Red October campaign will consist of meetings, rallies, joint planning with TUCOSWA and individual unions, and information gathering and dissemination on the situation of trade union rights and membership in Swaziland. The work will also include mobilising non-unionised workers to join TUCOSWA unions, in which CPS activists will make a direct contribution.

The most important aspect of the pro-democracy struggle is to organise the working class for the transformation of the workplace and of society and to give full support to the collective activity of unions within TUCOSWA.